Box spacer



Feb. 8, 1944.. c. M. ELLIS I 2,341,088

1 BOX SPACER 7 Filed Nov. 24, 1941 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 II QVENTOR Gil [Ellis Patented Feb. 8, 1944 BOX SPACER Clarence M. Ellis, Lodi, Califi, assignor of onethird to J. E. Devine and one-third to James M. Prentice, both of Lodi, Calif.

Application November 24, 1941, Serial No. 420,165

6 Claims.

This invention relates to the loading of fruit boxes in refrigerator cars, and particularly to a device for maintaining the boxes spaced from each other transversely of the car and preventing loose play laterally of the car and the consequent shifting of the boxes during transporation. Such shifting, if permitted, causes considerable breakage of the boxes and damage to the contents, as is well known.

The principal object of this invention is to provide spacer units for the purpose which are cheap to construct, easy to apply and remove, and which not only keep the boxes properly spaced, but do not interfere with the desired air circulation between the boxes lengthwise of the car during the forced-draft precooling operation usually carried out prior to the final ice loading and sealing of the car.

These objects I accomplish by means of such structure and relative arrangement of parts as will fully appear by a perusal of the following specification and claims.

In the drawings similar characters of reference indicate corresponding parts in the several views:

Figure 1 is a fragmentary transverse outline of a partly loaded car, showing one arrangement of boxes and one form of spacer unit associated therewith.

Figure 2 is a similar view showing another arrangement of the boxes and another .form of spacer unit associated therewith.

Figure 3 is a fragmentary perspective of the form of spacer unit shown in Fig. 1.

Figure 4 is a similar view of the form of unit shown in Fig. 2.

Referring now more particularly to the characters of reference on the drawings, the interior width of a standard refrigerator car between its inner walls I is somewhat greater than the length of five, or than the width of six standard boxes 2 in which grapes, etc., are shipped. As shown in Fig. 1, the boxes are disposed with their length extending transversely of the car in side by side abutting relation lengthwise of the car but spaced apart from the walls I and from each other transversely of the car, as is common procedure. The spacer unit initially designed for use in such cases is shown in Figs. 1 and 3, and for convenience of manufacture and manipulation comprises a pair of spacer units for each horizontal transverse row of boxes.

Each unit is somewhat shorter than one-half the width of the car and comprises a pair of slats r strips 3 parallel to each other and spaced between their opposite edges a distance less than the width of the box. The slats are connected at intervals corresponding to the length of the boxes by pairs of cleats 4 disposed in line with each other above and below the slats and are secured in place by nails 5 or the like. The width of the slats approximates the desired spacing between the boxes. As shown, one pair of the cleats is near one end of the slats and depends between the side wall of the car and the adjacent box.

In operation, two units in end to end alinement are placed over and rest on each transverse row of boxes as the latter are placed in the car, the depending cleats maintaining the boxes below the units properly spaced, while the upstanding cleats provide for the initial location of the boxes of the next row above when they are placed in position. As the units are each of a length only slightly less than one half the inside width of the car, adjacent ends of the slats of corresponding units are disposed in spaced but closely adjacent relation; this assuring that adjacent end portions of the slats overhang the center box of the row to an extent sufiicient to provide ample support for the corresponding box in the next held between the tiers of loaded boxes, and hence are prevented from possible buckling.

Some shippers prefer to load the boxes in the car so that their width is disposed transversely, which allows six boxes to be placed in a transverse row, as previously stated. The spacing between the cleats of the spacer units is then re duced accordingly. For this type of loading, I preferably employ the spacer units as shown in Figs. 2 or 4. Each such unit comprises a single strip 6 having relatively short box spacing and locating blocks or rectangular dowels 1 projecting therethroughin secured relation equal distances above and below the strip. The spacing of these blocks corresponds to the spacing of the boxes when they are positioned in the car as above stated.

As before, two units are used for each horizontal transverse row of boxes, but because there are SIX boxes in a row and there is thus a space between adjacent boxes at the center of width of the car, the units are of different lengths. One unit is of suflicient length to overhang a box beyond the center of the car and has a corresponding number of locating blocks, including one to depend between the boxes on both sides of the central space. The other unit is correspondingly shorter, and has locating blocks to depend between the remaining boxes in the row. Since the blocks are relatively thin in a plane lengthwise of the car, one unit is used for each end of the box, the strip 6 resting on the cross top end cleat of a box.

The last described unit has the advantage that it is lighter and may be even cheaper than the first described type, since no nails are required and the strip 6 may be punched through at the necessary intervals to receive the blocks with a frictional holding fit. Also, the blocks may be of the same material as the strips themselves.

As a result of the use of my improved box spacer units of either type, car loading operations are facilitated and speeded up. Also, the cost of the spacers-which when once used are discardedis reduced considerably over the cost of the devices at present used for the purpose. Also, the cleats or spacer blocks, being relatively shallow as to height, do not choke up the spaces between the boxes in the different rows, and which are necessary to provide for the desired air circulation lengthwise of the car.

While the spacer units are here shown as bein placed between each horizontal row of boxes, it is usually sufii'cient to dispose the units between alternate rows only.

From the foregoing description it will be readily seen that I have produced such a device as substantially fulfills the objects of the invention as set forth herein.

While this specification sets forth in detail the present and preferred construction of the device, still in practice such deviations from such detail may be resorted to as do not form a departure from the spirit of the invention, as defined 'by the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and useful and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

l. A spacer unit for a horizontal row of boxes comprising a strip adapted to overlie and rest on a plurality of boxes in said row, and blocks projecting through the strip at right angles in secured relation along the same in position to depend between the boxes of the row on which the strip rests and projecting above the strip to form locatingand spacing elements for the succeeding superimposed boxes.

2. A spacer unit for a row of boxes in a car comprising a member adapted to overlie and rest on a plurality of boxes of the rowand to substantially abut at one end against a vertical wall of the car and elements mounted on and projecting from said member in spaced relation along the same to receive a corresponding number of boxes therebetween and maintain such boxes spaced; the member terminating at said one end a distance from the adjacent element only sufficient .to leave a vertical air gap between the adjacent box and said wall of the car, but extending beyond the opposite endmost element a distance sufficient to overlie the adjacent box for a substantial portion of its extent.

3. An elongated spacer unit for adjacent superimposed horizontal rows of boxes, said unit comprising a pair of parallel strips adapted to extend lengthwise of said rows and to be engaged between a plurality of corresponding boxes thereof, said strips being spaced apart transversely of the rows a substantial distance but no greater than the width of said rows, and pairs of transverse outwardly projecting matching cleats fixed on and connecting said strips on opposite sides thereof, said pairs of cleats being spaced apart in a direction lengthwise of the rows a distance equal to the dimension of the boxes in the same direction, whereby adjacent cleats on the same side of the strips engage and maintain a box therebetween in spaced predetermined relation to adjacent boxes in the same row.

4. A spacer unit as in claim 3 adapted for use between rows wherein the boxes extend longitudinally and are vertical-ended; said cleats being rectangular in cross section whereby to engage the box ends in matching face to face relation.

5. An elongated spacer unit for adjacent superimposed horizontal rows of boxes, said unit comprising a pair of parallel strips adapted to extend lengthwise of said rows and to be engaged between a plurality of corresponding boxes thereof, said strips being spaced apart transversely of the rows a substantial distance but no greater than the width of said rows, and pairs of transverse outwardly projecting matching cleats fixed on and connecting said strips on opposite sides thereof, said pairs of cleats bein spaced apart in a direction lengthwise of the rows a distance equal to the dimension of the boxes in the same direction, whereby adjacent cleats on the same side of the strips engage and maintain a box therebetween in spaced predetermined relation to adjacent boxes in the same row, the strips at one end projecting longitudinally a relatively short distance beyond the adjacent pair of cleats,

and. projecting at the other end a relatively greater distance beyond the pair of cleats adjacent said other end.

6. A box spacing and retaining assembly comprising, between adjacent superimposed horizontal rows of boxes in a car and extending between walls thereof, a pair of elongated horizontal spacing units disposed in substantial end to end alinement and engaged between said rows, said spacer units each being of a length only slightlyless than one-half the distance between said car walls, opposite ends of the units abutting adjacent car walls, and adjacent ends of said units terminating close to but short of each other in overhanging relation to an intermediate ,box in the lowermost row and like underlying relation .to the'corresponding box in the uppermost row, and transverse box spacing elements included in each-unit, said elements projecting in opposite directions from said units in spacing relation between adjacent boxes, and between said car walls and adjacent, boxes.

RENCE 

